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Comparison of Effect of Two-Hour Exposure to Forest and Urban Environments on Cytokine, Anti-Oxidant, and Stress Levels in Young Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Su Geun Im

    (Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, College of Medicine Inje University, Seoul 04551, Korea)

  • Han Choi

    (Graduate School of Art Therapy, Cha University, Sungnam 11160, Korea)

  • Yo-Han Jeon

    (Department of Child Psychology and Education, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul 110-745, Korea)

  • Min-Kyu Song

    (Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, College of Medicine Inje University, Seoul 04551, Korea)

  • Won Kim

    (Department of Psychiatry, Seoul Paik Hospital, College of Medicine Inje University, Seoul 04551, Korea)

  • Jong-Min Woo

    (Korea Employee Assistance Professionals Association, Seoul 04551, Korea)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of two-hour exposure to a forest environment on cytokine, anti-oxidant and stress levels among university students and to compare the results to those measured in urban environments. Forty-one subjects were recruited. For our crossover design, subjects were divided into two groups based on similar demographic characteristics. Group A remained in the urban environment and was asked to perform regular breathing for 2 h. Blood samples were collected and the serum levels of cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were examined. Subjects were moved to a small town in a rural area for an equal amount of time to exclude carryover effects, and then remained for another 2 h in a forest environment. The second set of blood samples was collected to assess the effect of exposure to the forest environment. Using the same method, Group B was first exposed to the forest environment, followed by exposure to the urban environment. Blood samples collected after the subjects were exposed to the forest environment showed significantly lower levels of IL-8 and TNF-α compared to those in samples collected after urban environment exposure (10.76 vs. 9.21, t = 4.559, p < 0.001, and 0.97 vs. 0.87, t = 4.130, p < 0.001). The GPx concentration increased significantly after exposure to the forest environment (LnGPx = 5.09 vs. LnGPx = 5.21, t = −2.039, p < 0.05).

Suggested Citation

  • Su Geun Im & Han Choi & Yo-Han Jeon & Min-Kyu Song & Won Kim & Jong-Min Woo, 2016. "Comparison of Effect of Two-Hour Exposure to Forest and Urban Environments on Cytokine, Anti-Oxidant, and Stress Levels in Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:7:p:625-:d:72598
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sus Sola Corazon & Ulrik Sidenius & Dorthe Varning Poulsen & Marie Christoffersen Gramkow & Ulrika Karlsson Stigsdotter, 2019. "Psycho-Physiological Stress Recovery in Outdoor Nature-Based Interventions: A Systematic Review of the Past Eight Years of Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-21, May.
    2. Hyeyun Kim & Yong Won Lee & Hyo Jin Ju & Bong Jin Jang & Yeong In Kim, 2019. "An Exploratory Study on the Effects of Forest Therapy on Sleep Quality in Patients with Gastrointestinal Tract Cancers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-7, July.
    3. Jean C. Bikomeye & Andreas M. Beyer & Jamila L. Kwarteng & Kirsten M. M. Beyer, 2022. "Greenspace, Inflammation, Cardiovascular Health, and Cancer: A Review and Conceptual Framework for Greenspace in Cardio-Oncology Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(4), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Dannie Fu & Natalia Incio Serra & Hubert Mansion & Emilia Tamko Mansion & Stefanie Blain-Moraes, 2022. "Assessing the Effects of Nature on Physiological States Using Wearable Technologies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Albert Bach Pagès & Josep Peñuelas & Jana Clarà & Joan Llusià & Ferran Campillo i López & Roser Maneja, 2020. "How Should Forests Be Characterized in Regard to Human Health? Evidence from Existing Literature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-15, February.
    6. Francesco Meneguzzo & Lorenzo Albanese & Giorgio Bartolini & Federica Zabini, 2019. "Temporal and Spatial Variability of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Forest Atmosphere," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-24, December.
    7. Chia-Pin Yu & Chia-Min Lin & Ming-Jer Tsai & Yu-Chieh Tsai & Chun-Yu Chen, 2017. "Effects of Short Forest Bathing Program on Autonomic Nervous System Activity and Mood States in Middle-Aged and Elderly Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-12, August.
    8. Jin Gun Kim & Jinyoung Jeon & Won Sop Shin, 2021. "The Influence of Forest Activities in a University Campus Forest on Student’s Psychological Effects," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-16, March.
    9. Charlotte Wendelboe-Nelson & Sarah Kelly & Marion Kennedy & John W. Cherrie, 2019. "A Scoping Review Mapping Research on Green Space and Associated Mental Health Benefits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-49, June.
    10. Agnes Peterfalvi & Matyas Meggyes & Lilla Makszin & Nelli Farkas & Eva Miko & Attila Miseta & Laszlo Szereday, 2021. "Forest Bathing Always Makes Sense: Blood Pressure-Lowering and Immune System-Balancing Effects in Late Spring and Winter in Central Europe," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.
    11. Da-Hong Wang & Ai Yamada & Masamitsu Miyanaga, 2018. "Changes in Urinary Hydrogen Peroxide and 8-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxyguanosine Levels after a Forest Walk: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-9, August.
    12. Liisa Andersen & Sus Sola Corazon & Ulrika Karlsson Stigsdotter, 2021. "Nature Exposure and Its Effects on Immune System Functioning: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-48, February.
    13. Hiromi Suenaga & Kanako Murakami & Nozomi Murata & Syoriki Nishikawa & Masae Tsutsumi & Hiroshi Nogaki, 2020. "The Effects of an Artificial Garden on Heart Rate Variability among Healthy Young Japanese Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Susan L. Prescott & Alan C. Logan, 2016. "Transforming Life: A Broad View of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Concept from an Ecological Justice Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-44, November.
    15. Sujin Park & Eunsoo Kim & Geonwoo Kim & Soojin Kim & Yeji Choi & Domyung Paek, 2022. "What Activities in Forests Are Beneficial for Human Health? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-29, February.
    16. Ai Yamada & Yoshiko Sato & Tokushi Horike & Masamitsu Miyanaga & Da-Hong Wang, 2020. "Effects of a Forest Walk on Urinary Dityrosine and Hexanoyl-Lysine in Young People: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-10, July.

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